Bedspking lifting device



Jan. 24, 1939. HERzoG BEDSPRING LIFTING DEVICE Fild April 8, 1957 2Sheets-Sheet 1 .c. Q v/f/ Il II I INVENTOR 1 Jan. 24', 1939. L, 'HERZOGBEDSPRINGLIF'TING DEVICE Filed A ril s, 1957 2 SheetS -Sheet 2 INVENTORATTORNEY Patented Jan. 24,. 1939 UNITED STATES BEDSPRING LIFTIN G DEVICELouis HerzoggBrooklyn, N. Y., assignor of onehalf to Joseph Miller,Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application April 8, 1937, Serial No. 135,632

5 Claims.

My invention relates to .a lifting device for lifting bed spring framesand mattresses, and the purpose is to provide a very simple device ofthis character by means of which the bed spring and mattress of a bedmay be tilted or rocked on an axis to raise them to an elevated positionfor the purpose of giving ready access for the cleaning of the floorunder the bed as well as to place the bed spring frame in a position foreasily cleaning the springs, bed frame etc.

Devices have been proposed for this purpose but the present invention isan improvement over former devices, especially in that the device may beapplied to any type of bed and bed spring now in use because the liftingdevice requires no modification of the bed structure, nor the springframe structure. On the other hand, the lifting device does not have tobe applied at the factory to the bed spring, nor the bed, but it may beattached if desired by the user, and without even the necessity of usingtools for the mounting of the device on the bed.

Another object of my invention is to provide a bed spring lifter whichwill more eflectively counterbalance the weight of the spring frame andthe parts carried by it and readily hold the spring frame in the raisedor tilted position while the floor below the bed is being cleaned, orwhile the various bed springs and frame are being cleaned.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bed spring lifter whichmay be mounted entirely on the side beams of the bed, therebyeliminating attachment of any of the parts to any cross members of thebed structure.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bed spring lifter whichwill permit all cross members of the bed structure, other than the headboard and the foot board, to be omitted or removed so that when the bedspring frame is in raised position there will be a full clear space inwhich to move a mop or other cleaning instrument over the floor beneaththe bed.

Another object is to make the bed spring lifter detachable from the bedstructure and in a simple manner, so that in case of moving, the liftingdevice may be detached from the bed frame or from the spring frame, orboth, to be readily packed for moving purposes.

Another object is to provide a very simple construction of bed lifterhaving but few parts, and which will be very simple in operation.

I have shown my invention in two different forms, one of which isadapted to be applied to a woodenbed structure while the other isadapted to be applied a metal bed frame.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in thefollowing detailed description of my invention.

In the drawings forming part of this application,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bed to which my invention is appliedand showing the device positioned to support the spring frame inelevated position for cleaning purposes,

Figure 2 is a cross sectional View thereof, also showing the device inelevated position as in Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing a bracket for attaching one sideof the spring frame to the bed structure,

Figure 4 is a View similar to Figure 2 but showing the spring frame inlowered position or in the position it assumes when the bed is in use,

Figure 5 is a plan view showing one of the brackets, a portion of thespring frame, and the pivotal connection by which the pivoted side ofthe spring frame is attached to the bed frame, and corresponding withthe construction shown in Figures 1 to iinclusive.

Figure 6 is an end View of the parts shown in Figure 5,

Figure 7 is a face'view of the parts shown in Figure 5, looking at theright hand face of the parts in that figure,

Figure 8 is a sectional view of a portion of the spring frame and bedframe, where the latter is made of metal, and showing in end elevationthe means for attaching the pivotal side of the spring frame to the bedframe,

Figure 9 is a detailed sectional View showing the bracket for attachingthe device to the side of the bed frame opposite to that to which thedevice in Figure 8 is attached, and where the bed 1 frame is of metal,and

Figure 10 is a sectional view showing the type of clamp to be used wherethe longitudinal members of the bed frameare made of tubular metalinstead of angular metal.

Fig. 11 is a modified form of clamp for attaching the brackets to therail strip of a wooden bed frame.

I will first describe the form of device shown in Figures 1 to 7inclusive. In these figures I have shown a bed structure consisting of.head and foot boards I, 2 and between which are connected the side beamsor rails 3, 4 of the bed frame, and where my invention is employed it isnot necessary to have'any cross members between these side rails orbeams for the spring frame; and if there are such members on the bedthey may be removed if desired when my invention is applied thereto. Thespring frame is shown as consisting of a rectangular frame work 5 whichmay be of one piece and comprising longitudinal members 6, 1 extendingparallel along opposite sides of the frame, and cross members 8, 9connected between the side members which, as stated above, may be formedall of one continuous piece of metal.

The cross bars l6 extend between the sid members 6, I of the springframe, and I have shown helical springs mounted on the spring frame andsupporting the mattress l2.

It will be understood that the present invention may be used inconjunction with any type of spring frame and any spring system, and anytype of mattress.

Preferably, the present device is so proportioned that it is spaced somedistance from the head board and foot board of the bed structure, toleave a large open space for access to the floor when the spring frameis in elevated position. I employ, preferably, two brackets l3 forsupporting one side of the spring frame, arranging them spaced apartlengthwise of the bed, but preferably some distance from the footv andhead boards. These bracket devices may be both alike and a descriptionof one will apply to both.

Where the two side beams 3, 4 of the bed frame are made of wood, asshown in Figures 1, 2 and 4, these beams are usually of rectangularconstruction as shown, with their longest diameter extending vertically.Each bracket l3 consists of a U shaped yoke having a wall M which restsagainst the outer surface of the bed frame beam 3, a wall l5 resting onthe top surface of the beam, and a wall |6 extending downwardly andlying against the inner surface of the bed beam 3. These brackets may beslid downwardly upon the beam 3 so that they come to rest in theposition shown in Figures 2 and 4 and no bolts or other members arenecessary to hold them in place, and so that they will not injure thebeam of the bed the part in contact with the bed is covered with softfelt.

There is a bracket l8 like that shown in Figure 3, attached by means ofa rivet l1 pivotally to a laterally extending plate H! on each bracketl3. The bracket |8 has a slot 20 extending inwardly from one end, whichis adapted to receive one wall 2| of the angle metal member 1 whichforms one of the side beams or rails of the spring frame with the otherwall 22 of this angle metal member extending downwardly against theinner side of the portion 23 of the bracket |8 which is bent at rightangles to the main portion thereof. The bracket |8 also has a portion 24bent at right angles to the main portion and this member has twoapertures 25 as shown in Figure 3, to receive the pivot pins 26 and 21.The first of these pivot pins pivotally attaches to the member 24 alocking key 28 which, when in the lowered position shown in Figure 6,seats against the vertical web 22 of the bar 1 and holds the angle metalbar of the spring frame with its horizontal web 2| disposed in the slot20. This holds the spring frame in locked relation with the bracket l8so that they move together upon the pivot H. The

As long as the device is in operation upon a bed, the locking member 28is in the lowered position shown in Figure 6. This forms a veryconvenient means for assembling the spring frame at this position withthe brackets l8 and with the brackets l3 which are applied to one of theside beams of the bed, and no screws'or bolts are necessary forassembling and disassembling of the spring frame on the supportingbrackets.

On the pivot pin 21 there is pivotally mounted an arm 30 having anoffset portion 3| and this is adapted to be swung up into the raisedposition shown in Figure 2, to act as a stop to prevent the mattress andupper portion. of the spring structure from sliding out of place whenthe spring frame is to be elevated to the position shown in Figures 1and 2.

When the bed is in position for sleeping purposes the lever arms 36 maybe lowered into the position shown in Figure 4, to be out of the way, orin other words, it need only be elevated when the spring frame is to belifted. When there are two brackets l3 for supporting the spring frame,there are preferably two arms 30 one for each bracket.

It will be understood that the pivot pins I! by which the brackets |3are pivotally connected with the brackets l3 will be in alignment andthat this line will form the axis about which the spring frame swingsbetween the lower position shown in Figure 4 and the raised positionshown in Figures 1 and 2.

I have shown clamps 3|, there being two in the drawings, consisting oftwo plates connected together by bolts 32, the plates being applied toopposite sides of one of the cross bars ID of the spring frame, with onebolt 32 above this bar and the other below it, as shown in Figure 2. Itis understood that both these clamps are alike.

There is a longitudinally extending rod 33 passing through the free endsof the clamps 3| and adjacent each end of the pivot rod there ispivotally mounted a lever arm 34. These lever arms, each being of thesame length, are pivotally connected by the pins 35 with other leverarms 36 which are preferably longer than the arms 34. These latter leverarms 36 are pivotally connected with the pins 31 mounted in the lowerends of the downwardly extending members 38 of brackets which aremounted upon the right hand beam 4 of the bed frame in Figures 2 and 4.These brackets 39 are attached to the right hand beam 4 of the bedstructure in the same manner as the brackets |3 on the left side. Eachconsists of a vertical wall 46 engaging the outer surface of the righthand beam 4 of the bed frame, of a horizontal wall 4| resting on the topof the beam 4, and a vertical wall 42 extending downwardly and engagingthe inner side of the beam 4. From this latter wall there extendshorizontally toward the center line of the bed a rest portion 43 onwhich the longitudinal bar 6 of the spring frame is adapted to rest andthe downwardly extending portion 38 to which the lever arm 36 is pivotedis a downward continuation of the portion 43 of the bracket.

There are spiral springs 44 each having one end connected with a pin 45on the bracket 43 and another end connected with the rod 46 whichextends through apertures in the pair of lever arms 36 so that thesesprings have a tendency to raise the lever arms 36 from the positionshown in Figure 4 to the position shown in Figures 1 and 2. There areother spiral springs 41 each having one end connected with the bar 46and their opposite ends connected with pins 48' which are mounted on theends of the lever arms 49 which project below the plane of the pivotpoints 35 of the lever arms 34 in Figures 1 and 2. Preferably, there arestraps 50 connected with these same pins 48 which lie parallel andagainst the face of the lever arms 36 and they are provided withlaterally extending pins 5| which are adapted to abut against one edgeof each of the lever arms 36 when the spring frame is in the positionshown in Figures 1 and 2, to limit the relative rocking motion of thelever arms 36 and 34 to about the position shown in these figures. Inother words, they prevent the joined ends of the lever arms 36, 34 fro-mmoving upwardly in Figure 2, and thus allowing the spring frame to drop.

Operation In order to attach the present device to a bed and its springframe, it is only necessary to apply the brackets shown in Figures 1 to7 to the side beams of the bed frame by disposing them upon the sidebeams in the manner shown in the drawings, where they will engage andrest without any bolts or screws for holding them in place, althoughsuch may be used if desired. If there are any cross slats or supports onthe bed these may be removed if desired to leave the entire space withinthe bed structure free and open.

The clamps 3! are attached to the cross bars IQ of the spring frame. Oneof the side rails of the spring frame is presented to the bracket l8 sothat the horizontal wall 2| of the side rail enters the slot 20 of thebracket member I8 while the locking member 28 is'turned up, whereuponthis locking member is turned down to hold the member 7 locked to thebracket member It.

When the bed is in use or in condition for use, the parts will be in thecondition shown in Figure 4 where one side of the spring frame issupported by the brackets [3 upon one of the side beams of the bed frameand the other bar 6 of the spring frame rests upon the projectingsupports 43 of the right hand bracket 39. The

lever arms 34, 35 with their springs are all folded up close to theunder side of the spring frame and during this time the springs 41 aredrawn out or a under tension, and the springs 44 are also drawn out andunder tension. No part of the present device need be connected with anycross members of the bed frame if there are any nor with the head boardor foot board structures.

To operate the device to give access for cleaning the floor below thebed, or for cleaning the bed springs, the operator may grasp the springframe at the right side of the bed, as shown in Figure 4, or the frontside as shown in Figure 1, and lift this side of the spring frame untilthe parts are in the position shown in Figures 1 and 2, whereuponcomplete access may be had to the floor below the bed as well as to thevarious parts of the bed springs and frame for cleaning purposes. Thespring frame and mattress may also be elevated in this manner to allowbetter circulation of air around the springs and mattress. Beforeraising the spring frame the abutment arms 39 may be swung from thehorizontal into the vertical position so that when the spring frame iselevated to the inclined position one side of the mattress may restagainst these arms which will prevent it from sliding off the springframe. In the operation of raising the spring frame in the mannerdescribed, the operator does springs 44 and 47.

ing pressure upon the rod 46 and therefore upon the lever arms 36 whichpressure tends to move the spring frame into the position shown inFigures 1 and 2, but their strength is not sufficient to completely liftthe spring frame and mattress as otherwise it would be necessary to lockthe spring frame in lowered position.

The springs 41 are also exerting a pulling tension upon the pins 48which are connected with the arms 49 of the levers 34. While the bedspring and mattress are in the lowered position shown in Figure 4 thesprings 4'! have very little effect on the tendency to lift the springframe and mattress because these springs are almost in alignment withthe lever arms 34. However, as soon as the operator starts to lift oneside of the spring frame the levers 34 pivot about the pins 35,whereupon the springs 41 exert an increasing pull upon the lever arms 34and this action is added to the action of the springs 44 and theircombined strength may be so designed as to completely lift the springframe and mattress once the pivotal motion thereof is started by theoperator, so that the latter may merely initiate the lifting operationand the remainder of the movement may be carried out entirely by theWhen the parts reach the position shown in Figures 1 and 2 the pins 5!will strike against the under edges of the lever arms 36 and thus stopthe rocking motion of the lever arms 36, 34 after the arms 49 of thelatter have passed one side of the pivotal points 35 thereby limiting orsetting the positions of the several lever arms so that the spring frameand mattress will remain in the position shown in Figures 1 and 2 whilethe floor is being cleaned, or while the springs and their frame arebeing cleaned.

To lower the device back into operative position, shown in Figure 1, theoperator need simply press the arms 49 backwardly or press the leverarms 36 backwardly, and pulling downwardly on the right hand side of thespring frame until the lever arms 49 have swung to the other side of thepivots 35 to break the joint, whereupon the operator merely continues topress downwardly on the right side of thespring frame in Figure 2, untilthe parts have been returned to the position shown in Figure 4. Thepressure required on the spring frame to lower the parts to the positionshown in Figure 4 is very light as it is merely the difference betweenthe raising effect of the several springs and the weight of the springframe and mattress. a

During the pivotal motion of the spring frame it swings about the pinsIT on the brackets l3. By having the supports 43 extend inwardly somedistance from the brackets 39 the spring frame will rest upon thesesupports even though its width does not correspond exactly with thespace between the two beams 3, 4. In other words, the spring frame doesnot have to correspond exactly with the spacing of the side beams of thebed rame. V

The device may be readily detached from the bed by simply lifting thebrackets is, 39 off the bed frame either in conjunction with the springframe or the brackets may be detached from the spring frame and the barof the spring frame may be detached from the brackets.

In Figures 8 and 9 I have shown a modification of the bracket devices inorder to adapt the present invention to bed frames of metalconstruction. In FigureS I have shown an angle metal members of a metalbed frame and corresponds in position and function with the wooden beam3 of the first described form. The bracket member 54 is provided with aslot 55 to receive edgewise therein the horizontal web 56 of this anglemetal beam and this bracket is preferably provided with a laterallyextending member 51 which engages the under surface of the web 56 of the.bed beam and with another laterally extending member 58 engaging thetopsurface of the web 56. To this latter member there is pivoted at 59 alocking member 69 which when in raised position permits the web 56 toenter the slot 55 and which, when in lowered position, as in Figure 8,engages the left hand surface of the vertical web GI and locks the bedframe member to the bracket 54. The bracket member 62 which is pivotedto the bracket member54 on the stud 63 corre sponds with the bracket I 8shown in Figure 6 and previously described, and the parts connectedtherewith, such as the swinging arm 39 for holding the mattress and thepivotal locking member 28 are all the same as in Figure 6.

In Figure 9 I have shown a type of bracket to replace the bracket shownat the right in Figure 4 to adapt it for a bed frame of metalconstruction. In this view the bracket 64 is provided with a slot 65 toreceive the horizontal web 66 of the right hand angular bed framemember. This bracket has a lateral projection 61 adapted to engage theunder surface of the horizontal web 66 and a lateral web 68 engaging theupper surface of this same horizontal web. To the latter there ispivotally connected by the pin 69 the locking member 10 which when inlowered position as shown in Figure 9, engages the outer surface of thevertical web H and locks the bracket 64 upon the beam. There is adownward projection 12 extending from the bracket portion 64 and thelever arm 36 is pivoted to this downwardly extending projection on thepin 13 in the same manner that the lever arm 36 is connected to themember 43 in Figures 1, 2 and 4. The brackets shown in Figures 8. and 9adapt the device to a bed frame of metal construction and embody thesame principles as are disclosed in the first described form of theinvention.

In Figure 10 I have shown a method of attaching the lifting device to abed frame, the side beams of which are of tubular form. In this form Ihave shown the tubular member 14 as the longitudinal beam of a bedframe. There are two members 15, I6 pivotally connected with each otherat 11 each having an arcuate portion partly surrounding the beam 14 andadapted to be clamped upon this beam by the bolt 18 passing through cars19 extending laterally from each of the arcuate members. The straight orstem portions 80 projecting from each of the arcuate members 15, I6 lieface to face against each other and they overlap each other. One ofthese projections is carried out to form an extension 8| which has a pin82 on which either the bracket shown in Figures 5 and 6 or the bracketsshown in Figure 8 is attached. In other respects the construction maycorrespond with that shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4.

In Figure 11 I have shown a modified form of bracket for attaching thebrackets of the lifting device to the rail strip ordinarily present onwooden bed frames, instead of being mounted directly upon the beam ofthe bed frame. At 83 I have shown one of the rail strips which isattached to the bottom and inner side of the beam 84 of the bed frame.The bracket 85 in this construction consists of a web 86 resting uponthe rail strip 83 the web 81 extending downwardly inside the rail strip,and a horizontal web 88- extending under the rail strip. Thumb screws 89threaded in this lower web 88 are adapted to be screwed up against theunder side of the rail strip 83 to hold the clamping member thereon. Thebracket 90 has a bottom end 9| extending at right angles thereto andriveted to the upper web of the clamp 85. This bracket 90 extendsupwardly along the inner side of the beam 84 and its top end is providedwith the rivet 92 on which the bracket 93 is pivotally mounted. Thislatter bracket 93 and the parts carried by it correspond in constructionand function with the bracket l8 shown in Figure 3.

From the above it will be apparent that I have provided a spring liftingdevice which gives complete access to the floor below the bed forcleaning, as well as full access to the spring for cleaning. The deviceis simple and effective and while it may be factory built on the springframe, it is also adapted to be applied to the spring frame and bedframe by the user and without the use of tools. The device in no wayinjures nor mars the bed frame. It also permits all cross members of thebed frame intermediate the head and foot boards to be removed ifdesired. The device requires no attachment to either the head board orthe foot board.

. Having described my invention, what I claim is: l IUIEH 1. In a bedspring lifting device, the combination of means for hinging one side ofthe bed spring to one side of a bed frame, a bracket on the other sideof the bed frame having an arm projecting therefrom and providing asupport for the bed spring when in lowered position, a pair of levers,one of said levers being pivoted at one end to the other lever at anintermediate point thereof and one of said levers being pivoted to thebracket arm below the plane of the supporting face of the arm, and theother of said levers pivotedto the under side of the bed spring, tensionmeans between the end of the intermediately pivoted lever and the otherlever adapted to urge said levers into straightened relation when thebed spring is in a downward position, and tension means between thebracket to which the lever is pivoted and said tension means adapted tourge said lever in an upward direction.

2. In a bed spring lifting device, the combination of means for hingingone side of the bed spring to one side of a bed frame, a bracket on theother side of the bed frame having an arm projecting therefrom andproviding a support for the bed spring when in lowered position, a pairof levers, one of said levers being pivoted at one end to the otherlever at an intermediate point thereof and one of said levers beingpivoted to the bracket arm below the plane of the supporting face of thearm, and the other of said levers pivoted to the under side of the bedspring, a spring attached at one end to the end of the intermediatelypivoted lever and at the other end to the other lever adapted to urgesaid levers into a straightened relation when the bed spring is in adownward position, and a spring attached at one end to the other leverand the bracket to which said lever is pivoted and said spring adaptedto urge said lever in an upward direction.

3, A bed spring lifting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein theintermediately pivoted lever is pivotally connected to the bed springand the other lever pivotally connected to the bracket arm.

4. In a bed spring lifting device brackets adapted to be mounted on theside members of a bed frame and each bracket having a laterallyextending arm and the arm of one bracket to be engaged by and supportthe bed spring when in lowered position, means for hinging the bedspring at one side to the arm of the other bracket, a pair of levers onelever pivotally connected at one end to the other lever at a pointintermediate the ends of said latter lever, and one lever pivotallyconnected to the bed spring to extend below the same and the other leverpivotally connected to the arm of the bracket mounted on the side memberof the bed frame opposite to that on which the bracket is mounted to thearm on which the spring is hinged, tension means between the pivotedconnection of the levers adapted to urge said levers into a straightenedrelation when the bed spring is in a downward position, and tension,

means between the one lever and the bracket to which it is connectedadapted to urge said lever in an upward direction.

5. In a bed spring lifting device as claimed in claim 4 wherein themeans to hinge the bed spring to the one bracket comprisesa member fixedto the frame of the spring pivoted to the bracket,'a lever pivoted onsaid member adapted in one position to extend longitudinally of the bedspring and in another position thereof to extend upwardly from saidmember transversely of the side of the bed spring.

a LOUIS HERZOG.

